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Reference.org
Cardiac monitoring
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<p>Cardiac monitoring generally refers to continuous or intermittent <a href="/facts/Monitoring_(medicine)/cTc3d1j5">monitoring</a> of <a href="/facts/Heart/fF4KSGdk">heart</a> activity to assess a patient's condition relative to their <a href="/facts/Cardiac_cycle/b93n3ecF">cardiac rhythm</a>. Cardiac monitoring is usually carried out using <a href="/facts/Electrocardiography/YpVswJ0W">electrocardiography</a>, which is a <a href="/facts/Non-invasive_procedure/q3ju0cxf">noninvasive</a> process that records the heart's electrical activity and displays it in an electrocardiogram. It is different from <a href="/facts/Hemodynamics/HzubzJpn">hemodynamic</a> monitoring, which monitors the <a href="/facts/Blood_pressure/VtqqSM2J">pressure</a> and <a href="/facts/Blood_flow/HzubzJpn">flow</a> of blood within the <a href="/facts/Circulatory_system/WXwudzzc">cardiovascular system</a>. The two may be performed simultaneously on <a href="/facts/Critical_care_medicine/lbc92jbH">critical</a> heart patients. Cardiac monitoring for ambulatory patients (those well enough to walk around) is known as ambulatory electrocardiography and uses a small, wearable device, such as a <a href="/facts/Holter_monitor/CskFhGLn">Holter monitor</a>, <a href="/facts/Wireless_ambulatory_ECG/Qo3Ecvxr">wireless ambulatory ECG</a>, or an <a href="/facts/Implantable_loop_recorder/PTyFbXUs">implantable loop recorder</a>. Data from a cardiac monitor can be transmitted to a distant monitoring station in a process known as <a href="/facts/Telemetry/Mz9czXTl">telemetry</a> or <a href="/facts/Biotelemetry/qlceAq6j">biotelemetry</a>. </p><p>Cardiac monitoring in an <a href="/facts/Emergency_department/Qo4NcDeP">emergency department</a> setting focuses primarily on the monitoring of <a href="/facts/Arrhythmia/ooEpr46Q">arrhythmia</a>, <a href="/facts/Myocardial_infarction/xoGw0qcG">myocardial infarction</a>, and <a href="/facts/QT_interval/42JWI9Nc">QT interval</a> monitoring. It is categorized into one of three classes using a rating system developed by the American College of Cardiology Emergency Cardiac Care Committee: </p><p>Class I: Cardiac monitoring is indicated in all or most patients. </p><p>Class II: Cardiac monitoring may be beneficial, but it is not essential. </p><p>Class III: Cardiac monitoring is not indicated because the patient's serious event risk is low. Monitoring will not have therapeutic benefit. </p>